Who are the Scots & The Scottish Nation

(Paperback)

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Two classic books are brought together here. "Who are the Scots" describes the peopling of Scotland. It begins 7000 years ago with the hunter gatherers finding their way north to an empty land. Then it charts the impact of 5000 years of migration and invasion. Successive waves brought Beaker people, Celts, Picts, Scots, Britons, Angles, Norsemen, and Anglo-Normans. Among the last of these, the greatest of Scotland's foes and the bravest of its champions were squaring up for battle as the period ends. "The Scottish Nation" takes up the story with rival dynasties struggling among themselves and against the English. It shows how the Scots managed to secure an independence and within its uneasy confines create a new and sophisticated nation. It considers how the new Stewart dynasty sought to tame the highlands and islands. It examines the nature of Mary's reign, Knox's Reformation, and the union of the crowns under James VI. It explores the clash of loyalties during the years of the Covenanters, under Cromwell's Commonwealth, and within the restored monarchy of Charles II. Finally, it tells how this first nation of Scotland came to an end with the union of the parliaments.

Reviews

A useful publication to recommend to students, and indeed, to anyone interested in the history of Scotland and the Scottish people before the union. A useful publication to recommend to students, and indeed, to anyone interested in the history of Scotland and the Scottish people before the union.

Author Bio

Gordon Menzies is an independent producer and formerly Head of Educational Broadcasting at BBC Scotland.